* Gov. Rauner was asked on KMOX earlier this month about what he’s done so far as governor. Here’s an excerpt…
Number two, we’re transforming Medicaid in Illinois. Medicaid has been broken and corrupt. It has been ripping off taxpayers and not providing high quality health services. We’ve reduced enrollment dramatically and we’ve increased the efficiency in Medicaid and saved many hundreds of millions of dollars transforming Medicaid. That’s historic.
* Some additional background is here. From the Alliance for Community Services…
280,000 Medical cards being sent out, due to glitches, backlog
The Rauner administration is mass mailing as many as 280,000 notices of temporary medical cards to persons whose applications are stuck in a backlog due to computer glitches and understaffing. The notices are called HFS2350 “Notice of Possible Entitlement to Temporary Medical Assistance.”
The federal government fines states for taking more than 45 days to process Medicaid and SNAP applications.
Some Human Services caseworkers report they are currently processing Medicaid applications filed in January of 2018. Caseworkers report that they were told as many as 280,000 cases are overdue.
The Alliance for Community Services considers these temporary medical cards to be a helpful step for those languishing in the IES-caused backlog, but also a tacit admission that the expensive new IES computer system is failing.
The Rauner administration needs to admit there are continuing glitches and fix them. In addition, the attempt to get a computer program, IES, to make policy and eligibility decisions, rather than trained caseworkers, is misguided.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I should’ve checked the governor’s claims before posting. My bad. According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, there were 3,247,722 full and partial enrollees during Fiscal Year 2015, when Rauner took office. At the end of FY2017, there were 3,159,553. That’s a 2.7 percent decrease. Hardly dramatic and maybe even temporary if they were wrongly kicked off.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Heating up…
If by "dramatic" you mean audit findings that you can't account for $7 billion, or an enrollment backlog of 280,000 people caused by the failure of your $300 million new IT system, or losing 14,000 nursing home resident claims? Yep that's "Historic" failure #twill#ilgovhttps://t.co/PxmzaKG5aU
* Background is here. Joey McLaughlin of WTAX talked with Gov. Bruce Rauner today…
Governor Rauner fires back at black lawmakers. “The black legislators really have not been serving their community very well, they’ve been too loyal to Mike Madigan,” Rauner tells radio show. https://t.co/FVAenvY2fs
McLaughlin: You recently did an interview on WVON in Chicago and you said no one’s done more for the black community than you have. Some members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus have taken issue. What are your thoughts there?
Rauner: [Laughs] Not surprised they’re sensitive because the black legislators really have not been serving their community very well. They’ve been too loyal to Mike Madigan and his machine. The reality that the black community has been suffering in Illinois under the policies of Madigan’s majority for decades. High unemployment, high taxes, lack of economic opportunity and lack of educational opportunity. And in my administration, I’ve tried to blow up that system and transform it. We’ve created more academic educational equality and excellence than any other governor and we’ve achieved it with our new education funding formula. More equity, more money from low income schools and poor school districts to increase their school quality. Historic change there and record funding for K-12 schools. We’ve also transformed the criminal justice system that too often has been biased against African-Americans. We’ve increased criminal justice and brought fairness back into the system. Historic change, Illinois is a national leader thanks to our administration. And then on economic opportunity, we’ve done more to grow the economy by cuttin’ red tape, cutting regulations, reducing LLC fees, and making sure that state contracting has a level playing field and African-American businesses have a real shot to get state contracts. We haven’t just talked about it, we’ve done it. So, I’m very proud of what our administration has accomplished.
…Adding… So, why is the governor so intent on bashing black lawmakers this week? Well, he doesn’t have very thick skin, and he may truly believe he’s done some good things for black people (and he has). But he also has a real problem with his Republican base since barely winning the primary. And one sure-fire way of uniting the hardcore GOP base is to bash minorities. Just sayin…
*** UPDATE 1 *** Media advisory…
Juliana Stratton Responds to Rauner’s Racist Comments
Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton and members of the Black Caucus to hold press conference in response to Bruce Rauner’s racist comments today, where he stated that he’s “not surprised they’re sensitive because the black legislators really have not been serving their community very well.”
Let’s not be overly harsh. Mayhaps Governor Kipling is just reminding us to “take up the white man’s burden” - we dare not stoop to less. Clearly the failed governor rated worst in the US knows better than black lawmakers what’s best for black folks. #twill#checktherecordhttps://t.co/a2QaDtq7dA
Tune in as we respond to Bruce Rauner’s comments today that he’s “not surprised they’re sensitive because the black legislators really have not been serving their community very well.”
* Juliana Stratton: Black community wants more than just proclamations from leaders: Together, we’re putting forward real plans to reverse the divestment in our communities. J.B. and I will increase funding for our schools, especially the ones our governor once called “prisons.” We’ll support our small businesses by making sure entrepreneurs of color have equal opportunity to compete. And we will be steadfast advocates for a criminal justice system that recognizes the potential of every person in all of our communities. The Rauner playbook pits one community against another. It qualifies lip service as leadership. It accepts the status quo as good enough. So while I’m outraged that Bruce Rauner thinks he’s doing enough for the black community, I’m sadly not surprised. Three years of inaction suggests he is unable or unwilling to recognize reality.
The Pritzker campaign… released a new TV ad today called “Thank You,” highlighting the residents of neighboring states thanking Rauner for igniting their job markets by driving Illinois into the ground. Under Rauner’s failed leadership, Illinois has higher unemployment.
“Under Bruce Rauner, Illinois has higher unemployment than nearby states, and residents of neighboring states are benefiting from this governor’s failed leadership,” said JB Pritzker. “Enough with the bad mouthing — it’s time Illinois had a governor that creates jobs right here in our state, and works tirelessly to help businesses thrive. When I’m governor, I’ll put our economy back on track and put Springfield back on the side of working families.”
* The ad is an obvious play on Rauner’s “Thanks Mike” TV ad which featured Republican governors thanking Speaker Madigan for sending jobs to their states. That ad is no longer around because Missouri’s governor resigned under pressure after a sex scandal. Anyway, rate it…
* Transcript…
We want to say thank you. Thank you Bruce Rauner. Thanks governor. For helping create jobs here, in Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana. Because when Bruce Rauner calls Illinois a horrible place to do business, guess where the jobs go… to us… and what governor talks trash about his own state…We all have lower unemployment than Illinois. Thanks to Bruce Rauner. Hoosiers love you Bruce! Big fans here in Missouri! Cheeseheads too. Thanks Bruce Rauner. Thanks governor. Thanks gov.
*** UPDATE *** Rauner campaign…
Pritzker won’t admit the damage that’s been done to Illinois by decades of corrupt politicians because he’s used his wealth and influence to benefit from a broken political system. Governor Rauner is working every day to clean up state government and build a better future for the hardworking people of this state.
Attorneys for Alaina Hampton will appear in federal court on her behalf regarding a suit filed against the Democratic Party of Illinois, Friends of Michael J. Madigan, the 13th Ward Democratic Organization and Democratic Majority, the political action committees associated with Madigan’s organization. Hampton brings the suit after filing a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in February 2018. Ms. Hampton will not be present for this court appearance. Attorneys for Hampton will be available for comment.
* Kevin Quinn, the brother of Ald. Marty Quinn who was accused of sexual harassment by Alaina Hampton which ultimately led to Hampton’s lawsuit and EEOC complaint, has circulated a document to reporters entitled “The Truth.” It’s his side of the story, but leads with this…
Acknowledgement of Responsibility & Perspective
It was never my intent to make Ms. Alaina Hampton feel uncomfortable. I take responsibility for sending the text messages she has publicly released between us and apologize for my attempts to get to know her outside of necessary interactions. In February 2017 when my supervisor approached me about my text messages with Alaina Hampton, I was reprimanded and all communications with her immediately stopped. Then during an investigation that was prompted from a letter Alaina sent to Speaker Madigan in November 2017 about the text communications, I was further reprimanded by Counsel Heather Wier Vaught in December 2017. On both occasions when I was reprimanded, I was informed that Alaina Hampton did not want me fired. I believe my February 2018 departure from working on Speaker Madigan’s political and state staff was in large a result of a pleading to a January 2018 misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, which was directly related to my bitter divorce involving a custody battle of two children.
He also claims the media has “strong unconscious personal biases against Speaker Madigan,” and says he’s only trying to counter the “misinformation that has been reported.”
* There’s some hearsay and other unverified claims within his narrative, but here is an excerpt…
• I was never Alaina Hampton’s supervisor and never had any control over her assignments.
See Appendix A that contains several text communications between Alaina Hampton and I that clearly show that Alderman Marty Quinn was her supervisor
• The 2018 campaign manager for the 5th district state representative (“RD5”) race was already determined prior to Alaina Hampton approaching Heather Wier Vaught. Alaina Hampton’s allegations that she was retaliated against because she did not obtain a job working on the RD5 race for the 2018 election cycle fails to recognize that the position of campaign manager was filled prior to her conversation.
• Alaina Hampton has quit political campaign roles and government jobs on multiple occasions. Additionally, Alaina has exaggerated the roles she served in for the political committees of Speaker Madigan.
See Appendix B for a timeline of relevant events to the Hampton Investigation. The timeline includes occasions when Aliana Hampton quit various positions as well as how her roles changed over time.
• Alaina Hampton fails to recognize a fundamental principle in politics; she was not welcomed back into any of the Speaker’s political organizations after she took a salaried position on the Marie Newman for Congress campaign against 13 Ward Democratic Organization ally, Congressman Dan Lipinski.
• In February 2016, Alaina Hampton told Alderman Marty Quinn that she did not want to communicate with me any further and immediately my communication with her stopped. There has been no contact with her since.
• Alderman Quinn’s handling of Alaina Hampton’s complaint was swift and is in alignment with the degree of confidentially she sought, the seriousness of the offense and the outcome desired by the complaintant.
• There was never any sort of cover up with respect to the investigation. Alaina Hampton had no knowledge of the misdemeanor disorderly conduct pleading that was associated with my nasty divorce and was part of the broader examination of my employment record conducted by Counsel Heather Wier Vaught.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Hampton’s attorney Shelly Kulwin…
“We have just received this document. We intend to review it with our client. We can say that it reads like a legal brief written by attorneys to make the litigation defendants’ case. We anticipate that the full ‘truth’ will come out once, in addition to Ms. Hampton’s texts, we are able to review the defendants’ internal communications on this issue as well other relevant discovery we obtain during the case.”
Everyone’s got a right to an opinion, but this doesn’t look like a plot by Madigan’s attorneys plot to me. It’s just too reckless. They usually don’t do reckless. Kevin really messed them up here.
However, Hampton’s attorney disclosed that there are discussions of a settlement.
“There is a lot at stake here. There is perhaps a lot more at stake than meets the eye in normal litigation,” said Shelly Kulwin, Hampton’s attorney. “But I’m all for resolving this case and I think my client is, as well. The goal here is not to go on a crusade for the next two years in litigation. The goal here is to get her specific injury addressed and re-dressed.”
Now, re-read Kulwin’s statement from the first update. If they blame Madigan’s lawyers for Quinn’s statement, any deal could easily be in jeopardy - if there really is a possibility of that happening. I’m not sure there have been actual settlement talks.
By the way, Kevin Quinn also e-mailed a fuzzy, low-resolution headshot that WBEZ used in its story. Amateur hour.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Rep. Kelly Cassidy…
Gimme a break. This is the oldest trick in the book. Just another offensive tactic from the old playbook that aims to discredit and undermine women who come forward. Women considering speaking out should not let Mr. Quinn’s despicable behavior deter them.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Expected…
A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan said no one in Madigan’s political or governmental office was involved in preparing Quinn’s memo. https://t.co/DKh6WVoPfd
A victims’ rights activist who was the first to publicly name a state legislator for alleged abuse of power has now filed a complaint against a slew of other state lawmakers who are also lawyers, claiming misconduct, malfeasance and other violations of professional standards.
Denise Rotheimer said Monday she filed a complaint with Illinois’ Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission against several high-ranking lawmakers, including state Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. Rotheimer also filed complaints against lawmakers who are attorneys on the Legislative Ethics Commission and against the special legislative inspector general. The ARDC was established by the Illinois Supreme Court to “promote and protect the integrity of the legal profession.” The Illinois Supreme Court has the authority to disbar attorneys.
The complaints stem from the nearly three year vacancy for the legislative inspector general position. The inspector general is responsible for investigating allegations of lawmaker wrongdoing. While the post was vacant, complaints forwarded to the office sat untouched.
“Hopefully the ARDC having respect for the profession will see that those who have licenses to practice in the state are held to the laws and whether or not they become lawmakers are not immune to breaking those laws,” Rotheimer said.
A check of the ARDC’s website at 10:22 this morning shows no complaints filed. But it hasn’t been updated since Friday.
…Adding… Rotheimer sent me the receipt she received after filing her request for an investigation. Click here.
An Air Force veteran and former resident of the Quincy veterans home who was a guest of Gov. Rauner at his State of the State speech has died.
Ivan Jackson was one of two residents Rauner invited to his Jan. 31 speech at the Capitol. Jackson and the governor met when Rauner spent a week at the state-run veterans home to meet with staff, learn about operations and spend time with residents.
Soon after the speech, Jackson was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, one of three new cases at the Quincy home.
“U.S. Air Force veteran Ivan Jackson was a man of rare quality,” Rauner tweeted Monday. “Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, his service will be remembered, his memory cherished … forever. Rest in honor, my friend.”
Rauner’s administration said it had no evidence Jackson’s death was caused by Legionnaires’, and the coroner in St. Louis County, Missouri, where he died, wasn’t immediately available. But Jackson’s daughter said Legionnaires’ likely was a contributing factor along with other serious underlying illnesses.
“I can’t tell you that it was a reason he passed, but I can tell you it didn’t help in his ongoing health issues,” Allyson Springer told WBEZ Monday afternoon. […]
Springer said her father was hospitalized with pneumonia on February 9, less than two weeks after Rauner feted Jackson at his State of the State address. Rauner met the veteran during a weeklong stay at the facility in January, a visit designed to show the home was safe.
After being admitted to the hospital, Springer said her father had a heart attack. A few days later, the family learned he had tested positive for Legionnaires’. After his heart attack, Springer said Jackson suffered a stroke.
Prior to his illness, she said he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was outfitted with both a pacemaker and defibrillator.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign with a related angle…
Weeks before the budget crisis began, Bruce Rauner announced the cuts his impending crisis would force on state programs, including halting construction of the Chicago Veterans’ Home.
The 195-bed facility was originally slated to open in mid-2016, but now it’s been delayed by over three years. Rauner also suspended capital projects, delayed payments to state vendors, and suspended funding for addiction and bullying prevention, firefighter training, immigrant integration services, and welcoming centers.
“Critical programs that help Illinoisans build better lives became casualties of Bruce Rauner’s failed leadership months into him being sworn in,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “This failed governor halted construction on a Veterans’ home in Chicago — and then fatally mismanaged one in Quincy — in a desperate and cruel attempt to force his political agenda on our state.”
